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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Areola

6 replies

emohow · 10/07/2023 20:56

Hello! My first post so not entirely sure what I'm allowed to post.

I am currently 28 weeks pregnant and noticed a bump in my right breast a few weeks ago. I saw my doctor on 29th June for assessment and they referred me via the '2 week pathway' to have the lump checked out, sadly due to NHS constraints, the 2 week pathway in my area is taking 3.5 weeks so I'm still waiting for an appointment. In the meantime, I'm driving myself insane and my areola is becoming more and more worrying, I'm just not sure if this is pregnancy related.

Firstly, the area of my lump is at the top of my areola and as time goes on, the area around it is becoming more unfamiliar and strange looking and almost like a 'break' in my areola, I can't really explain it, please see picture 1 and 2.

My second (picture 3) concern is the areola has become really swollen at the bottom, again hard to explain but I would say it's getting thicker, the skin in this area is really thick and hard and feels completely different to my other boob and is beginning to crack. I'm beside myself with worry and can't find anything online/any pictures to compare it to, I can do nothing but wait for my referral appointment to come through because even privately in my area is a long waiting list.

I know this is not an area for medical diagnosis, but I just need to speak to other people who may have experienced this!!!

Thank you!

OP posts:
Lottie917 · 10/07/2023 21:15

Sorry you're experiencing this OP, this is the last thing you need in pregnancy.

I haven't experienced quite the same as you but I have been referred under the 2 week pathway twice since I had my son in 2021. Once was when he was 6 months and most recently I went in Feb this year.

Both times were because I'd found lumps that didn't feel right. At the clinic both times I had an ultrasound, saw a consultant and it was determined that both times it wasn't anything untoward and that my breast structure had changed significantly since having a baby (which I can understand because they are very lumpy now and it's really hard to tell what's 'normal').

Our boobs do change very significantly in pregnancy and even afterwards in postpartum too. You've done the right thing by getting referred and I understand how anxiety inducing that wait is and you can't help but think the worst possible outcome.

More often than not these changes aren't anything bad. If you haven't already seen, there's a few MN threads regarding lumps in boobs and being referred under the health section that I found useful and reassuring to read prior to my appointment.

I hope you get your appt soon and they can put your mind at ease 💐

CrystalQueen87 · 19/08/2023 20:47

Hi Op how did you get on? Any update as I'm experiencing the same.

emohow · 19/08/2023 21:09

In

OP posts:
CrystalQueen87 · 19/08/2023 21:20

??

CrystalQueen87 · 19/08/2023 21:46

emohow · 19/08/2023 21:09

In

Sorry I don't think your message sent properly

emohow · 19/08/2023 22:12

Hello! I'm sorry you're currently going through this, I know it can be extremely worrying and very difficult to get answers from anyone/online etc, I was going out of my mind waiting for my appointment. Despite being referred via the 2 week urgent pathway, my appointment ended up being scheduled 4 weeks and 1 day after my referral, due to high referral numbers so I was going out of my mind for a prolonged amount of time and in the meantime convinced myself the area was something sinister as it was extremely hard and I could feel a distinguished 'lump' However, thankfully at my appointment, the consultant felt the area and immediately agreed there was something there, however he was sure it felt just like overlapped breast tissue (amazing how he knew this immediately). He sent me for a ultrasound scan the same day regardless and also got my results that day too, absolutely nothing to worry about and he said it was something that happens regularly in pregnancy, the breast tissue swells/grows/changes due to milk production and just them getting bigger etc. I would say it is definitely worth proceeding with your referral and further investigation and really do wish you all the very best of luck and hope you get some good news! I know how worrying and all consuming it can be, so I hope you are seen quickly and reassured. Please let me know if you have any questions!!

OP posts:
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